Tasmanian Bush Heritage
The most famous Gads Hill stockman was Harry Stanley (1820–98), a tiny (162-cm tall), illiterate, former Sussex basket weaver transported for horse stealing as a 21-year-old in 1841—although his version of events was that he simply held a rope, which happened to have two horses at the end of it.1 He served two years in … Read moreOld Station, no.2: Harry and Mary Stanley, a Gads Hill double act
In April 1842 a new settler named Frederick Wilbraham Ford, his future father-in-law Thomas King and four convict servants drove 75 cattle overland from Longford to King’s new property at Table Cape.1 This was an adventure. There were unbridged rivers to ford, including the smooth-stoned Mersey, along the Van Diemen’s Land Company (VDL Co) Track through … Read moreOld Station, Gads Hill, no.1: Field brothers’ highland base
North East Tasmania West Coast Gads Hill – Liena All photos Peter Brown copyright
This blog is brought to you by guest writer Paula McCulloch. In August 1946 three snarers got snowed in at their camp somewhere near Lake Ina in the Western Lakes on the Central Plateau. A party searching for them battled five-feet-deep snow before escorting them out to Derwent Bridge. The snarers had survived fairly well … Read moreThe Search for a Snarers’ Hut north of Lake Catherine
In January 2016 Simon Cubit published a blog about the hunt for Parsons Hut. In March, and another two blogs later, the hut site had been found. It was a very rewarding search and seemed to be over quickly. The story behind the blogs is that it was much longer and much more difficult that … Read moreThe Search for Parsons Hut Revisited
Ronald Smith (1881–1969) never prospected with his famous father, James ‘Philosopher’ Smith, but took to the Tasmanian highlands like they were in his DNA. During the years 1903–14 he made more than a dozen hikes into the Forth River high country. Some of the places he visited would have been lost to history if not … Read moreIn the footsteps of ‘Philosopher’ Smith: revisiting the hut site at the Copper Creek Mine, Lea River, Tasmania.
Thomas James Connolly was the publican at the Rosebery Hotel, a part time prospector and active member of the small emerging mining community. Life for him, his wife Agnes and two infant daughters seemed to be going well. In March 1901, he walked to a new mining field at Barn Bluff and disappeared. Nine months … Read moreThe Mystery of the Missing Publican – Part 4 – TJ Connolly’s Last Days
Thomas Connolly, the publican of the Rosebery Hotel, walked towards a prospectors’ camp near Barn Bluff on 20th March 1901. His swag was found at Lake Windermere a few kilometres from his destination but he had disappeared. George Sloane, a tragic figure in his own right, is forever associated with Thomas Connolly.[1] In late 1901, … Read moreThe Mystery of the Missing Publican – Part 3 – A Gruesome Discovery
Thomas Connolly left his Rosebery Hotel on Tuesday 19th March 1901 to meet prospectors James Swallow and Thomas Cook at their camp near Barn Bluff. He walked to Mount Farrell (now called Tullah), stayed overnight and then followed the Mole Creek Track towards Barn Bluff. Two days later, cold weather hit. It battered and soaked … Read moreThe Mystery of the Missing Publican – Part 2 – The Search
Weather in the Tasmanian high country is unpredictable. The roaring 40s crash into the West Coast and spend themselves on the high mountains and plains. Rain, wind, storms and snow can come quickly at any time of the year. It catches the unprepared or unlucky. Sometimes it leaves death as its legacy. Each tragedy scars … Read moreThe Mystery of the Missing Publican – Part 1 – TJ Connolly